Display device with removable membranes

ABSTRACT

In this specification, the gist of the technical disclosure resides in a thin-wall, light message-transmitting element which can be masked, peeled, cut, punched or molded in selected patterns and placed over a glass or plastic reflector, or over a glass or plastic lens, or over a translucent or light-diffusing element to convey a message from a light reflector or a backlighted device. The element is constructed of a piece of opaque material or light-transmitting or filtering material, such as thin-wall acrylic, styrene, butyrate, polycarbonate or other type of material having the properties of light blockage, transmission or filtering. The element is constructed in such a way as to include preformed designations of outlines such as squares, rectangles, triangles, diamonds, circles and the like which a user may mask, peel, cut or punch in selected sequences to form symbols such as an arrow, numerals such as house numbers, and letters to form words such as &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Caution,&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Stop,&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Slow, &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; a person&#39;&#39;s name or initials, and the like. Such a light message-transmitting element is constructed with tabs or other fastening devices corresponding with receiving inserts on the glass or plastic reflector, lens or translucent or diffusing light element, for attachment and detachment for the purpose of readily detaching the light message-transmitting element to perforate the marked portions in whatever selected sequence desired to form the indication or message desired to convey upon light being either reflected from the front or transmitted from behind, depending on whether used with a reflecting element, a lens, or translucent or light-diffusing element being backlighted. There are obviously many other ways in which the element can be attached and detached to the light reflector or backlighted device, such as adhesives, heat-sealing, solvents, sonic welding and the like. Once the desired indication or message has been made on the element by masking, peeling, cutting or punching the selected marked portions, the element is then placed by whatever attachment means selected over the reflecting element, lens or translucent or light-diffusing element, to form either a reflective device or backlighted device having a directive sign or message. It is also possible to make the message-transmitting element a permanently assembled part of the reflector or backlighted device by solvent cementing or sonic welding to the faces thereof. The membranes would be punched out in place without removing the element from the reflector or backlighted device.

United States Patent Eugene J. Majewski [72] Inventor 121 North ElmoreAve., Park Ridge, 111.

60068 [21] Appl. No. 834,071 [22] Filed June 17, 1969 [45] Patented Dec.28, 1971 [54] DISPLAY DEVICE WITH REMOVABLE Primary Examiner-Robert L.Richardson Attorney-Ernest S. Kettelson ABSTRACT: In this specification,the gist of the technical disclosure resides in a thin-wall, lightmessage-transmitting element which can be masked, peeled, cut, punchedor molded in selected patterns and placed over a glass or plasticreflector, or over a glass or plastic lens, or over a translucent orlight-diffusing element to convey a message from a light reflector or abacklighted device. The element is constructed of a piece of opaquematerial or light-transmitting or filtering material, such as thin-wallacrylic, styrene, butyrate, polycarbonate or other type of materialhaving the properties of light blockage, transmission or filtering. Theelement is constructed in such a way as to include preformeddesignations of outlines such as squares, rectangles, triangles,diamonds, circles and the like which a user may ,mask, peel, cut orpunch in selected sequences to form symbols such as an arrow, numeralssuch as house numbers, and letters to form words such as Caution, Stop,Slow, a persons name or initials, and the like. Such a lightmessage-transmitting element is constructed with tabs or other fasteningdevices corresponding with receiving inserts on the glass or plasticreflector, lens or translucent or diffusing light element, forattachment and detachment for the purpose of readily detaching the lightmessage-transmitting element to perforate the marked portions inwhatever selected sequence desired to form the indication or messagedesired to convey upon light being either reflected from the front ortransmitted from behind, depending on whether used with a reflectingelement, a lens, or translucent or light-diffusing element beingbacklighted.

There are obviously many other ways in which the element can be attachedand detached to the light reflector or backlighted device, such asadhesives, heat-sealing, solvents, sonic welding and the like. Once thedesired indication or message has been made on the element by masking,peeling, cutting or punching the selected marked portions, the elementis then placed by whatever attachment means selected over the reflectingelement, lens or translucent or light-diffusing element, to form eithera reflective device or backlighted device having a directive sign ormessage.

It is also possible to make the message-transmitting element apermanently assembled part of the reflector or backlighted device bysolvent cementing or sonic welding to the faces thereof. The membraneswould be punched out in place without removing the element from thereflector or backlighted device.

" P IZ Patented Dec. 28, 1971 3,631,474

2 Sheets-Sheet l m 3 G .-4 DEIEIEIEIEIEIgEIE] EIDEIEIDDEI [JG o EIEIEIEIEIEIEIEI EIEIEIEI (0 D Em EIEI El El :ll l Fl 4 EIEIEJTIHIIIIIIE]EIEIIIIE FIG. 4.

INVENTOR. EUGENE J. MAJEWSKI BY SLMJW ATT'Y.

Patented Dec. 28, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EUGENE J. MAJEWSKI BY5M4. m

AT T' Y.

DISPLAY DEVICE WITH REMOVABLE MEMBRANES This invention relates to a newand useful light messagetransmitting element for use either with lightreflectors or for backlighted fixtures comprising relatively thin-wallmaterial having preformed designations or markings thereon for masking,peeling, cutting or punching to make any desired sign or message to beplaced over the light reflector or backlighted device.

It is an object of this invention toprovide a light messagetransmittingelement of thin-wall construction with preformed designations ormarkings thereon for a purchaser to mask, peel, cut or punch any desiredsign or message, said element confonning to the configuration of aparticular light reflector or backlighted fixture and having attachmentmeans such as tabs in the filter grid element and correspondingreceiving slots in the reflector or backlighted fixture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lightmessage-transmitting element of thin-wall construction for affixing to alight reflective or backlighted fixture in which the lightmessage-transmitting elements can be punched in a stacked series on theworktable or a press by an appropriate die set in a machine press toperforate in said light filter grid elements whatever design, sign ormessage desired, for multiple assembly of said light filter gridelements to appropriate light reflective or backlighted fixtures by amanufacturer or distributor on a mass-production basis.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lightmessage-transmitting element of thin-wall construction for affixing to alight-reflective or backlighted fixture in which the peripheralconfiguration of the message-transmitting element corresponds with thatof the face of the reflective or backlighted fixture, with the lightmessage-transmitting element unperforated but with markings thereon forready perforation by a seller of any desired design, sign or messagerequested by a purchaser, said light message-transmitting element havingmeans for ready detachment and attachment to said reflective orbacklighted fixture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lightmessage-transmitting element of thin-wall construction, havingspaced-apart ribs which are relatively thicker (for example 0.060 inchesin thickness) and filled-in portions or membranes between said ribswhich are relatively thinner (for example, 0.010 inches in thickness oreven 0.005 inches in thickness, depending in part on the materials usedand methods of manufacture), so any number of the filled-in portions ormembranes between the spaced-apart ribs may be readily cut or punchesout in whatever pattern desired without breaking or damaging theadjacent ribs.

Other objects of the invention will be readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a light message-transmitting elementaccording to this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a reflector having a reflecting face over whichthe light message-transmitting element in FIG. 1 may be placed. v

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a backlighted device having atransparent face over which a light message-transmitting elementaccording to this invention may be placed, with a broken line indicatingthe upper slot into which a tab of the light message-transmittingelement may be placed.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a punching device to punch out selectedmembranes of the light message-transmitting element.

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken on line 55 of FIG. 1, showing thepunching device in FIG. 6 in place for punching out a membrane andshowing one of the membranes having already been punches out, alsoshowing the light message-transmitting element laid on a flat surface.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a series of light message-transmitting elementsaccording to this invention joined together.

The light message-transmitting element generally designated by thenumeral 1 in FIG. 1 has a peripheral portion 2 defining a peripheralconfiguration corresponding to that of the face of a light reflector 3in FIG. 2 or the light face 4 of a backlighted fixture 5 in FIG. Swithwhich the light messagetransmitting element is to be used. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 1, the light message-transmitting element 1includes tabs 6, and the reflector 3 as well as the backlighted fixture5 have corresponding receptive slots 7 into which the tabs 6 can beinserted for attachment of the light message-transmitting element to thereflector 3 or backlighted fixture 4 and when desired for detachmenttherefrom. It will be obvious that many other known methods of attachingand detaching the light message-transmitting element can also be usedsuch as adhesives, heat-sealing, solvents, sonic welding, screws and thelike.

The light message-transmitting element 1 includes a body portion 8 whichmay be constructed of an opaque material through which no light may passor be reflected, or of a lightfiltering material through which somelight may pass. An example of a suitable opaque material would be commonmasking tape in which case the adhesive backing could be used forattachment and detachment to the light reflector or backlighted device.Another example of a suitable opaque 7 material would be a solid blackpiece of plastic material, and

other materials such as cardboard could even be used. Examples ofsuitable light-filtering material through which some light may pass arethin-wall acrylic, styrene, butyrate or polycarbonate having anappropriate coloring or shading to filter and prevent at least somepassage of light, although many other light-filtering materials may beused including colored or shaded glass.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention as shown in Flg. 1, thebody portion 8 has preformed designations or markings 9 defining smallgeometric designs 10. The markings 9 as shown in FIG. 1 consist of ribs11 spaced-apart and extending vertically in parallel lines and ribs 12spaced-apart extending horizontally in parallel lines intersecting thevertical ribs 11 at right angles to fonn right angular sections 13therebetween. Obviously the intersecting ribs could be arranged tointersect at different angles to form any desired geometric sectionstherebetween, and the ribs could even be arcuate or circular in designbounding sections therebetween which would then be elliptical, ovular orcircular.

The ribs 11 and 12 are relatively thicker than the sections 13 boundedby said ribs. It has been found, for example, that a desirable thicknessof the ribs may be 0.060 inches and a desirable thickness of thesections 13 may be 0.010 inches, or even as thin as 0.005 inchesdepending on the material used and method of manufacture. The sections13 are thus formed thinly enough in the embodiment shown in FIG. I toconstitute membranes 14. These membranes 14 covering the sections 13between the intersecting ribs 1] and 12 are preferably spacedequidistantly from the anterior and posterior edges of their respectivebordering ribs 11 and 12. FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 44 ofa portion of FIG. 1 with the anterior edges of horizontal rib 12designated as 15 and the posterior edges of said rib designated as 16,with the membranes 14 shown equidistantly between FIG. 5 is a crosssection taken on line 5-5 of a portion of FIG. 1 with the anterior edgeof vertical rib 11 designated as 17 and the posterior of said ribdesignated as 18, with the membranes l4 similarly shown equidistantlybetween. It is not essential, however, that the membranes 14 be spacedequidistantly between the anterior and posterior of the adjacent ribs,but this is a preferred embodiment. The membranes may also be moldedwith a slight spherical curvature rather than flat.

This particular construction of the membranes 14 with respect to thebounding and intersecting vertical ribs 11 and horizontal ribs 12 leavesa slight space 19 at the top for insertion and accurate placing orcentering of a cutting or punching tool 20 shown in FIG. 6, so thepunching or cutting edges 21 of tool 20 rest immediately adjacent ribs11 and 12 of the particular membrane 14 it is desired to cut or punchout and help to hold the tool 20 accurately in place. The punching orcutting edges 21 are preferably of equal configuration and dimension asthe membrane 14. Similarly this particular construction of membranes 14leaves on the opposite side of the light message-transmitting element,when laid on a flat surface 23 as shown in FIG. 7, a slight space 22between the membrane and the flat surface 23, so when downward pressureis applied on the cutting or punching tool 20 against the thin membrane14, there is room for downward movement to break the membrane 14 awayfrom its bounding ribs 11 and 12.

In operation, the light message-transmitting element 1 is removed fromthe face 3 of a reflector or the face 4 of a backlighted fixture 5. Aperson then selects the membranes 14 he desires to remove from the lightmessage-transmitting element 1 to form whatever message he wishes toform therein, such as an arrow, a word such as Stop or "Caution", ahouse number, or the like. The light message-transmitting elements 1may, of course, be of any size, including miniature, such as to forminstructions on the face of a pushbutton switch, instrument panellabelling, etc., or of any shape, and several of such light-transmittingelements 1 may be placed adjacent one to the other as shown in FIG. 8 tocreate a reflective or backlighted message-transmitting fixture of anysize, shape and dimension desired, including the marquee of a theater.The spaces between the vertical ribs 11 and horizontal ribs 12 maylikewise be of any desired dimension, as large or as small as desired.

Once the membranes 14 have been selected to form the message desired byremoval thereof, the light-transmitting element is preferably laid on aflat surface 23 as shown in FIG. 7, the cutting or punching tool 20 iscentered between the ribs 1 l and 12 bounding one of the membranesselected for removal, downward pressure is applied on the tool 20, andthe membrane 14 is forced downward into the space 22 breaking it cleanlyaway from the bounding ribs 11 and 12. The same operation is performedwith respect to the other membranes 14 selected for removal. When allthose selected for removal have been removed, the desired message willthus have been formed in the light message-transmitting element which isthen reattached to the reflector face 3 or light face 4 of thebacklighted fixture 5.

As explained above, the detachment and attachment of the element 1 tothe reflector 3 or light face 4 of a backlighted fixture can be of avariety of types. The one illustrated shows tabs 6 on the element 1 forinsertion in corresponding slots 7 of the reflector or backlightedelement. FIG. 8 illustrates several of the elements 1 arrangedadjacently to make up a light message-transmitting fxture consisting ofa multiple number of elements 1. Obviously the lightmessage-transmitting elements 1 according to this invention could bemolded or otherwise formed into larger sizes, or in sheet form, and withany desired peripheral configuration such as circular, ovular,rectangular, triangular and the like.

The elements 1 shown joined together in FIG. 8 are bonded, glued orcemented along the peripheral portion 2 of each adjacent element 1. Ifthe elements 1 are constructed of cardboard or a suitable paper stock,glue may be used to join the elements. However, it is expected thatvarious plastic materials will be more commonly used to make theelements I, and bonding solvents which may be used for several types ofplastic materials to bond the elements 1 together along their adjacentperipheral edges 2 are given in the following examples as follows:

For an element 1 constructed of styrene, suitable solvents for bondingsuch material are toluene and xylene.

For an element 1 constructed of acrylic, a suitable solvent for bondingsuch material is methyl ethyl ketone.

For an element 1 constructed of polycarbonate, a suitable solvent forbonding such material is methylene chloride.

These are given by way of example, only, and do not limit the types ofmaterials of which the elements 1 may be constructed or the solvents,glue, cement or bonding agent that may be used to join the elements Itogether along adjacent peripheral edges 2.

The light message-transmitting elements 1 according to this inventionmay also be permanently bonded or otherwise fastened to a reflector face3 or face 4 of a backlighted device 5, such faces 3 or 4 thusconstituting the flat surface 23. The membranes 14 may be punched out inthe same manner as described and shown with respect to FIG. 7, with thepunchedout membrane 14 falling into the space 22 between said membraneand the reflector faces 3 (in the case of a reflector) or 4 (in the caseof a backlighted device). The punched-out membrane can then be removedby tipping over the reflector or backlighted device so the punched-outmembrane falls away by gravity, or if necessary, a small amount ofadhesive could be placed on the bottom portion 21 of the cutting tool20, then pressed against the punched-out membrane 14 so it sticks to thebottom of the tool 20 and the punched-out membrane withdrawn in thatmanner. The punched-out membrane 14 may also be crushed, cracked orsplintered to be withdrawn in pieces and fragments from the section 13from which it was punched.

Any selected message may be punched in the light messagetransmittingelement 1 by selection of appropriate membranes 14 to be punched out orotherwise removed. The elements 1 may be of any size, shape or form, andthe membranes 14 may likewise be of any size, shape or form. Theelements 1 with punched-out membranes 14 to convey a message upon lightreflection when placed over the face of a reflector, or lighttransmission when placed over the face of a backlighted device, can beused with such items as driveway markers, house number signs, highwaymarking, directing and warning devices, marquees of theaters, and fornumerous other uses where reflectors or backlighted devices are used toconvey a message.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim is:

l. A light-transmitting element (as set forth in Claim 5,) comprising abody of light blockage material, said body being cuttable to form amessage therein, means to secure said body to a light-transmitting face,wherein said body includes intersecting spaced-apart ribs, a membranebetween each of said ribs, said membranes being removable in desiredpatterns to form a message in said body, wherein said membranes areformed as part of and located between the anterior and posterior edgesof said ribs bordering each of said membranes, an anterior space betweeneach of said membranes and the anterior edge of said ribs bordering eachof said membranes, and a posterior space between each of said membranesand the posterior edge of said ribs bordering each of said membranes,said membranes being removable by pushing thereagainst from one sidetoward the other until the relatively thinner membrane breaks away fromthe relatively thicker bordering ribs.

2. A light message-transmitting element as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid body is of plastic material capable of blocking transmission oflight, wherein said ribs are on the order of 0.060 inches in thicknessand said membranes are in a range between 0.010 inches and 0.005 inchesin thickness.

3. A light message-transmitting element as set forth in claim 1, whereinaid element is secured to a light-transmitting face, said posteriorspace being located between said face and said membrane, said anteriorspace facing outward on the opposite side of said membrane, saidanterior space providing room for said ribs bordering said membrane toform edges to accurately center a cutting tool with cutting edgescorresponding to the dimensions and configuration of said membrane, saidposterior space providing room between said membrane and saidlight-transmitting face to permit pressure on the cutting tool from theanterior side to break said membrane away from said bordering ribs aspressure is applied from the anterior side towards the posterior sideand into said posterior space between said membrane and saidlight-transmitting face.

4. A light message-transmitting element according to claim 3 whereinsaid light-transmitting face is a reflector.

LII

light, permitting some light to pass through the unremoved membranes butrelatively greater amounts of light to pass through the removedmembranes will be clearly visible upon light passing from the saidlight-transmitting face.

8. A light message-transmitting element ac rding to claim 3, includingthe light-transmitting face to which it is secured.

@333 UNITED S'SATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3I 63ll474 Dated mber 28, 1971 Inventor(s) Eugene J. Majegski It iscertified. that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 47, change -"punches to punched--; line 71, change"punches" to -punch'ed- Column 2, line 6. after "between" insert aperiod; Column 4, line 37, delete "(as set forth in Claim 5,)"; line 60,change "aid" to -said-- Signed and sealed this 18th day of June 197LL.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARDMELETCHERJR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer" Commissioner? ofPatents

1. A light-transmitting element (as set forth in Claim 5,) comprising abody of light blockage material, said body being cuttable to form amessage therein, means to secure said body to a light-transmitting face,wherein said body includes intersecting spaced-apart ribs, a membranebetween each of said ribs, said membranes being removable in desiredpatterns to form a message in said body, wherein said membranes areformed as part of and located between the anterior and posterior edgesof said ribs bordering each of said membranes, an anterior space betweeneach of said membranes and the anterior edge of said ribs bordering eachof said membranes, and a posterior space between each of said membranesand the posterior edge of said ribs bordering each of said membranes,said membranes being removable by pushing thereagainst from one sidetoward the other until the relatively thinner membrane breaks away fromthe relatively thicker bordering ribs.
 2. A light message-transmittingelement as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body is of plasticmaterial capable of blocking transmission of light, wherein said ribsare on the order of 0.060 inches in thickness and said membranes are ina range between 0.010 inches and 0.005 inches in thickness.
 3. A lightmessage-transmitting element as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidelement is secured to a light-transmitting face, said posterior spacebeing located between said face and said membrane, said anterior spacefacing outward on the opposite side of said membrane, said anteriorspace providing room for said ribs bordering said membrane to form edgesto accurately center a cutting tool with cutting edges corresponding tothe dimensions and configuration of said membrane, said posterior spaceproviding room between said membrane and said light-transmitting face topermit pressure on the cutting tool from the anterior side to break saidmembrane away from said bordering ribs as pressure is applied from theanterior side towards the posterior side and into said posterior spacebetween said membrane and said light-transmitting face.
 4. A lightmessage-transmitting element according to claim 3 wherein saidlight-transmitting face is a reflector.
 5. A light message-transmittingelement according to claim 3 wherein said light-transmitting face isbacklighted.
 6. A light message-transmitting element accorDing to claim3, including a cutting tool, said cutting tool having cutting edgesthereon corresponding to the dimensions and configuration of saidmembranes.
 7. A light message-transmitting element according to claim 3,wherein said body is of plastic material capable of filtering light,permitting some light to pass through the unremoved membranes butrelatively greater amounts of light to pass through the removedmembranes so the message formed by said removed membranes will beclearly visible upon light passing from the said light-transmittingface.
 8. A light message-transmitting element according to claim 3,including the light-transmitting face to which it is secured.